Eurofos, France

Offering:

The Eurofos terminal is located at the Port of Fos-sur-Mer in southern France. It is responsible for some 60 percent of all container activity at the Port of Fos, handling 600,000 TEU annually. The terminal has direct access to the Rhone River going north to central France with excellent road and rail links to western Europe. Eurofos is owned by PortSynergy, France’s number one container terminal operator. All the straddle carriers at Eurofos are either Sisu or Kalmar machines, and Eurofos also has Kalmar reachstackers.

Eurofos goes for growth

This container terminal near Marseille, France has relied on Sisu and Kalmar machines since 1998.

The challenge

France, like the rest of the European Union, was badly hit by the 2008 economic crisis that still dampens overall growth. The key focus for Fos now is on recovering and increasing its market share. The biggest challenges are rebuilding its partnership with shipping lines and boosting future expansion.

The solution

Eurofos has recently added 12 new diesel-electric Kalmar straddle carriers to replace some older machines and pave the way for future growth. The new straddle carriers will help to develop and modernize operations. The order also included the SmartFleet process automation solution.

Nicolas Gauthier, CEO of Eurofos, says, “Kalmar is a key player in the industry and has an excellent reputation for sustainable, efficient performance and high operational safety. The new electric straddle carriers will provide our employees with an even safer and more comfortable working environment. Expanding and renewing our fleet with the best solutions available is an important part of our plans for future growth and will ensure that we can continue to provide our customers with high productivity and quality of service.”

The results

Since 2012, the Port of Fos has registered strong growth in its market share. In 2014, the throughput rose for the fifth consecutive year. PortSynergy/Eurofos welcomed eight new clients in the last year and a half.

“Thanks to the investments and the reorganization of the Port, operations have grown and market share is improving. The twelve new straddle carriers will help to underpin the development and modernization of operations at PortSynergy/Eurofos.”